10 | Jack Grealish - 2021/22 Performances

Status
Not open for further replies.
Shaelumstash said:
He really didn’t. Slowed everything down, came far too deep, held on to the ball for far too long, regularly missed the chance to play others in by delaying and dicking around too long and then playing safe, offered no goal threat whatsoever.

I like him as a character, and think he’ll come good when we get a proper striker. But he didn’t play decently today.
Click to expand...
In a piss poor team performance, his negatives certainly didn’t stand out for me.

We had a 5-6/10 team performance, and he slotted right in!
 
Looks to me like Pep has him on an extraordinarily tight leash. That’s why he’s doing what he’s doing.
 
giphy-12221018a3da43844.gif

nearly broke my TV at that. a player that refuses to use his left foot shouldn't play on the left wing.
 
samuelyeboah said:
giphy-12221018a3da43844.gif
Click to expand...
But on the other hand, look how elegantly he moves with the ball..

If Foden isn't injured - he will be playing False 9 - as I understand, this LW position is temporary..

Pep should rotate GJ and Foden on LW and Sterling & Mahrez on RW

This leaves enough space for Jack to shine on False 9 and if Torres goes - Palmer could be used as a substitute..

I'm sure Jack will be phenomenal there..
 
DATOIA said:
But on the other hand, look how elegantly he moves with the ball..

If Foden isn't injured - he will be playing False 9 - as I understand, this LW position is temporary..

Pep should rotate GJ and Foden on LW and Sterling & Mahrez on RW

This leaves enough space for Jack to shine on False 9 and if Torres goes - Palmer could be used as a substitute..

I'm sure Jack will be phenomenal there..
Click to expand...
Agree 100% plus if he'd have played the ball in with his left it would have been easy to defend - we don't have a goal poacher who makes a near-post run so everyone would have gone mad if his cross had gone straight to the keeper.

Jack has not really carved out a defined role as yet - but for me two things stand out 1. He has the raw ability to become a very important player for us and it is unfair to weigh the price tag against a perceived slow start.

And, 2. I just don't understand the fans who are piling on saying "he's a waste" or "we should have signed someone else" etc. Jack wanted to come to us to improve his all round play and like others before him can only be judged after 20-30 games under a Pep system. I like what I've seen and even with him not really hitting the highs yet we still find our team top of the table - anyone reading some of the comments, especially on the match day threads would think we were having a poor season. Jack will be fine.
 
Shaelumstash said:
Fair, DeBruyne has been off it. But the wider point is stats can only tell you so much.
Click to expand...
As diehard football supporters, we see what we see with our own eyes and form opinions with our hearts.

Stats mean nothing to most attendees - football performance is very subjective and frequently little more than a popularity contest
 
samuelyeboah said:
giphy-12221018a3da43844.gif

nearly broke my TV at that. a player that refuses to use his left foot shouldn't play on the left wing.
Click to expand...
If you're gonna criticise him, at least criticise something he's done wrong. He's looked up here, seen there's nobody available for the cross, so he's turned back and recycled possession? Seems fair enough to me. At least pick a moment where he gave the ball away, which he absolutely did once or twice today in the first half.
 
samuelyeboah said:
giphy-12221018a3da43844.gif

nearly broke my TV at that. a player that refuses to use his left foot shouldn't play on the left wing.
Click to expand...
Very little in the middle for him to aim at there, to be fair. Angle's not great for a shot and the box is congested with defenders, several between the goal and the furthest forward attacker. What are his options, regardless of what foot he uses?

He could try a shot, but the angle and the number of defenders means he's far more likely to lose possession than score. He tries it, he loses the ball, we all bemoan his finishing and selfishness.

He could flash it across the face of goal, but the gap between keeper and defence is small and we've got no-one playing on the shoulder of the last defender, so inevitably it'd go straight into the keeper's arms or go out for a goal kick or throw in before a City player could touch it. He tries it, he loses the ball, we all ask why he's wasting possession by crossing to no-one.

He could loft in a cross for someone to attempt a header, but again the defence is well-positioned and the attackers are seriously outnumbered. It'd have to pass several defenders before it reaches one of our players and our squad is not exactly full of players whose strengths include heading, so in all likelihood it's getting intercepted. He tries it, he loses the ball, we all slag him off for playing for an imaginary big centre-forward, trying to force an opportunity that's not there.

So he keeps the ball, tries to work the angles, gives his teammates time to move and try to find space. Then, nothing being on, he passes back so we can retain possession and try to find a way through from a different position.

(Just to be clear, I do agree he needs to use his left foot more, and I'm confused that he's not doing as I'm sure he was never this one-footed at Villa. I just don't think this example of his play is an example where the sensible option would require him to use his left.)

I'm not Pep, of course, but I know he values controlling the ball and keeping possession, so I don't think he'd be particularly upset at this example of patient, pragmatic play.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top
✖
  AdBlock Detected
Bluemoon relies on advertising to pay our hosting fees. Please support the site by disabling your ad blocking software to help keep the forum sustainable. Thanks.